The annual Blessing of the Fleet sponsored by the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club will be held at the Municipal Yacht Harbor Saturday, June 1, with festivities, the blessing, ship parade and historic significance beginning just before noon.
Rear Commodore John Flatley heads up the committee organizing and planning this event in which every boater is invited to participate.
The historic traditional Blessing follows a series of annual rituals, with the municipal dock and the Clubhouse flagpole dressed with code flags and appropriate officers’ flags flown.
Guests are expected to arrive shortly after 11:30 a.m. where they will be greeted by Commodore, Joseph Patsco and other Yacht Club bridge officers. All the club’s flag officers and past commodores will also assemble by the Pier 4 bulkhead in summer uniform complete with rank epaulets, or Club Blazers and identifying club patch.
The Reviewing Party for the boat Parade will be at the head of Pier 4 for their own procession to the pier at the Club’s dock. A color guard will lead the Assembly, which includes the clergyman who will give the blessing, along with Naval and Coast Guard Commanders, flag officers, and past commodores.
The Yacht Club’s launches will be blessed by the minister, then one of them, the Water Witch, will bring the group to the east end of the harbor’s breakwater for a memorial blessing honoring deceased members of the Yacht Club. That memorial service also includes laying a wreath in their honor on the water, with a cannon salute fired to sea. The Henry S will also be available for special launch service from an inner floating dock between piers 4 and 5.
The “Water Witch” will be in position to guide the vessels in the parade as they approach for their individual Blessing. This is a solemn event in which all are asking God’s blessing for a safe return from voyages at sea.
The traditional rituals include a cannon barrage after all those in the parade have received their blessing and the conclusion of the formal ceremony. A reception at the Yacht Club follows the historic ceremony and all are invited to attend for light refreshments and the presentation of awards for the Best Dressed Ship and the Best Dressed Crew.
Private yachts should refrain from dipping the Flag or Ensign in salute. The Yacht Club will not return flag dipping salutes, since it is the custom reserved for US Naval vessels initiating or returning the salute of a Royal Navy Vessel. Code flags may be flown by participating vessels from water line to water line in accordance with the order given in Chapman’s Piloting. All AHYC yachts should fly the YC Burgees.
The public not participating in the Boat Parade is invited to observe the festivities and rituals from any place in the harbor in the vicinity of the annual ceremony.
Blessing
